Nathaniel hone established a successful career as a fashionable portrait and subject painter in london. This beautifully executed satirical painting (the full title of which is 'the pictorial conjuror, displaying the whole art of optical deception') caused an outcry when it was submitted by the artist for exhibition at the royal academy, london, in 1775. The reason given was that included in the picture was a nude caricature of the swiss painter angelica kauffman. This was subsequently painted over, but the original figure can still be seen in a sketch in tate britain. The true cause of offence, however, was that the picture was seen as an attack on kauffman's friend joshua reynolds, president of the royal academy. His practice of borrowing poses from old master paintings to ennoble his portraits was seen by hone as plagiarism. The model used for the figure of the conjuror was often employed by reynolds. With his long cane the conjuror summons up an abundance of old master prints, while in his hand is a print of raphael's 'diadem madonna'. The subject, 'truth is revealed to man', is a pointed reference to reynold's artistic practice. After a brief showing at the academy, it was requested that the painting be removed. Hone was furious, and promptly withdrew from the royal academy. Without delay he organised an indipendent display of his work, the first one-man show ever held in the british isles. (national gallery of ireland: essential guide, 2008). Object Type: painting. Date: 1775. Dimensions: height: 145 cm (57 in) ; width: 173 cm (68.1 in). Medium: oil on canvas. Collection: National Gallery of Ireland. Nathaniel Hone The Conjurer
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